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CIHM/ICMH 

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d'images  n6cessaire.  Le  diagramme  suivant 
illustre  la  mAthode  : 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

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6 

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,i>' 


A.MEI^ICAN  HISTORICAL  aSS0CIAT1«»> 


THE  EMPLOYMKNT  OF   INDIANS  IN  THE 

WAK  OF  1812, 


I 


E.  CBUIK8HANK, 

or  FOilT  BitlK,  ONTABIO. 


(Prom  tbeyAlu>il»l  JK«port  of  the  Amei-'o^in  HUtoricjl]  Asstxiiation  for  ISJi:.,  i>»gc«  82J-3d8.>' 


WASHINGTON: 

laoG. 


m.:. 


.'^•* 


h 


I 


I 


I 


I 


AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  ASSOCIATION. 


THE  EMPLOYMENT  OF   INDIANS   IN  THE 

WAR  OF  1812. 


»r 


E.   CRUIKSHANK, 

OF  PORT  ERIK,  ONTARrO. 


(From  the  Annual  Keporl  of  I  lie  AmeriRau  Historical  AHgooiatiuii  fur  1895,  pages  321-335.) 


WASHINGTON: 

OOVKRNMENT   PRINTING   OPPICK. 

189G. 


I 


1 


■•~1*^ 


V.  , 


':: 


f 


THE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  INDIANS  IN  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 


By  E.  CitniKsiiANK.  t  . 

Prom  tlie  end  of  the  Ameri<;an  lievolution  the  importauce, 
and,  indeed,  the  necessity,  of  preserving  the  friendship  of  the 
Indians  of  the  Northwest  was  steadily  kept  in  mind  by  the 
officers  intrusted  with  the  administration  of  ('anada.  The 
organization  of  the  Indian  department  which  had  been  formed 
during  the  war  was  carefully  maintained.  Sir  John  Johnson, 
whose  family  name  was  still  a  word  to  conjure  with  in  the 
Indian  world,  was  appointed  supennten<lent,  and  Alexander 
McKee  and  John  Butler  resident  deputies  at  Detroit  and 
Niagara.  No  better  choice  could  i)ossibly  have  been  made. 
McKee  and  Butler  were  men  of  great  force  of  character  and 
undaunted  courage,  whose  long  experience,  consummate  tact, 
and  intimate  knowledge  of  Indian  customs  and  dialects  had 
gained  uiuivaled  influence.  /^ST,  when  war  seemed  immi- 

nent, Lord  Sydney,  secretary  o,  .ite,  remarked  in  a  dispatch 
that  the  treatment  of  the  Indians  h<.cl  always  been  liberal,  but 
as  the  security  of  the  province  might  dei)end  on  their  conduct 
the  supplies  to  them  should  be  augmented  rather  than  leave 
them  discontented. 

Butler  and  McKee  both  died  in  1706;  the  foriaer  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Johnstm's  nephew,  William  ( 'laus,  and  the  latter  by 
Mattbew  Elliot,  who  was  remarkably  well  (jualitied  for  the 
post  by  experience,  local  knowledge,  and  influence. 

In  1808,  when  war  again  seemed  almost  inevitable,  Claus  was 
sent  by  Lieutenant  Governor  (lore  to  Amherstburg  to  ascer- 
tain the  intentions  of  Indian  tribes  residing  between  the  Ohio 
and  Mis8i8sii)pi.  On  his  arrival  at  that  place  he  dispatched 
an  interpreter  to  bring  in  the  Shawanese  chiefs  and  prophet, 
who  took  the  lead  in  resisting  the  farther  advance  of  settlers 
into  the  hxliau  territory.  The  chiefs  obeyed  the  summons  in 
H.  Doc.  291 21  321 


322 


AMERICAN   HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


a  body  and  the  j)rophet  sent  a  friendlj'  message.  In  the  mean- 
time Glaus  conferred  with  several  chiefs  of  the  Chippewa  and 
Ottawa  ''nations"  who  were  decidedly  reserved  and  noncom- 
mittal in  their  languaj^e.  lie  concluded,  on  the  whole,  that 
they  were  certainly  hostile  to  the  Americans,  but  that  unless 
they  had  a  prospect  of  support  from  the  British  they  would  be 
"very  backward."  lie  estimated  that  the  number  of  fighting 
men  belonging  to  all  the  Indian  tribes  *'on  the  waters  of  the 
Miamis,  east  borders  of  Lake  Michigan,  Sagana,  and  the  in- 
terior of  the  country  between  those  waters"  did  not  exceed 
1,500. 

Elliot,  who  was  better  acquainted  with  the  sentiments  of 
these  tribes,  declared  unhesitatingly  that  one  regiment  of  Brit- 
ish infantry  would  be  sutticient  to  take  possession  of  Detroit 
and  the  territory  between  that  town  and  the  Ohio,  and  in  that 
event  the  Indians  would  at  once  beciune  active  allies,  an 
opinion  which  Mr.  Gore  promptly  discounted  as  much  too 
sanguine. 

The  lapse  of  four  years  brought  about  a  great  change  in  the 
situation.  The  Indians  had  diminished  in  numbers  and  other- 
wise grown  weaker,  but  more  hostile  to  the  American  settlers, 
who  had  become  far  more  numerous  and  aggressive.  The 
population  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  had  doubled  in  ten 
years  and  then  exceeded  three-quarters  of  a  million.  An  eager 
and  adventurous  host  of  250,000  settlers  had  i>oured  into 
Ohio.  Fifty  thousand  more  made  their  way  into  Illinois  and 
Indiana  in  open  defiance  of  the  protests  and  threats  of  the 
dwindling  and  dispirited  bands  that  had  been  x)ushed  back  to 
the  banks  of  the  Wabash.  '  . 

There  were  unmistakable  signs  that  the  visions  and  the 
harangues  of  the  Shawauese  prophet  and  others  were  bearing 
fruit  in  the  evident  unrest  and  discontent  among  all  the  West- 
ern Indians.  The  American  settlers  declared,  and  apparently 
believed,  that  the  spirit  of  hostility  was  largely  due  to  British 
inrtuence.  In  this  they  were  certainly  mistaken,  although  it 
would  be  useless  to  deny  that  the  officers  of  the  British  Indian 
department  sympathized  strongly  with  the  Indians  and  were 
sometimes  indiscreet  in  expressing  their  opinions. 

As  early  as  1808  the  Seven  Nations  of  Lower  Canada  were 
dissuaded  by  them  from  sending  delegates  to  a  great  council 
near  Lake  Michigan  that  had  been  convoked  by  the  prophet, 
and  up  to  the  last  they  seem  to  have  spared  no  ettbrt  to  avert 
^  collision. 


ijfmifM^.fS»r'mrK3>^!iiif. 


•  '.'^ft.iMnii.jirwi 


<;•-«".— -T«*  ■**«!«■ 


INDIANS    IN   THE    WAR    OK    1812. 


323 


111  a  dispatch  to  SirOeorjfe  IMevostdated  Decembers,  1811, 
Ooiieral  lirock  said: 

My  first  euro  on  my  iirrivul  in  this  proviiiro  wiis  to  <liro»-t  the  ofticers  of 
tho  Iii<li»n  (loi>artmeiit  at  Amliorstbnrjj  tooxcrt  tlieir  wlioln  inHiici>co  with 
the  IndiiiuH  to  prevent  Ihe  attack  which  I  luulertttood  a  few  tribea  luedi- 
tatod  a)j;ain8t  the  Aincri(Min  frontier;  Imt  thi'ir  oft'ortH  proved  fruitlesK. 
8noh  wiM  their  infatuation  that  the  ludiaM^  refused  to  listen  to  advice, 
and  they  are  now  ho  deeply  en>;a^d  that  I  despair  of  being  able  to  with- 
draw tliein  from  thi;  contest  in  time  to  avert  tlieir  destrnction.  A  hijjh 
degree  of  fanaticism,  which  has  been  for  years  working  in  their  uiinds^  has 
led  to  the  jtresent  state  of  affairs. 

Yet  when  he  wrote  these  words  he  was  convinced  that  war 
with  the  United  States  was  unavoidable,  and  deliberately  con- 
templated seeking  tlie  assistance  of  the  Indians  in  that  event. 

"  But  before  1  can  expect  an  active  co-operation  on  the  part  of 
the  Indians,"  he  continued,  "  the  redmtion  of  Detroit  and  Micb- 
ilimakinac  must  convince  that  people  (who  consider  themselves 
to  have  been  sacrificed  to  our  policy  in  the  year  1794)  that  we 
are  earnestly  engaged  in  the  war.  The  Indians,  I  am  given  to 
understand,  are  eager  for  an  opportunity  to  avenge  the  nu- 
merous injuries  of  which  they  complain.  A  few  tribes  at  the 
instigation  of  a  Shawanese  of  no  note  have  already  (ultho' 
explicitly  told  not  to  look  for  assistance  from  us)  commenced 
the  contest.  The  stand  which  they  continue  to  make  on  the 
Wabash  against  about  2,000  regulars  and  militia  is  a  strong 
Iiroof  of  tlie  strong  force  which  a  general  combination  of  the 
Indians  will  render  necessary  to  protect  wholly  so  extended  a 
frontier.'* 

The  dispatch  from  Lord  Liverpool  to  the  (Jovernor-Cieneral 
of  Canada,  dated  July  28,  1811,  reiterating  the  *instnu'tion8 
sent  to  his  predecessor  in  ortice  on  the  2d  of  February  to  exert 
every  means  in  his  power  to  restrain  the  Indians  from  hostili- 
ties does  not  a])pear  to  have  been  received  by  Prevost  until 
the  following  .laiiuary;  but  he  was  then  able  to  reply  tliat  the 
wishes  of  the  cabinet  in  tliat  respect  had  been  fully  anticipated, 
and  an  extract  from  IWock's  letter,  alreatly  cited,  was  at  once 
forwarded  to  the  British  minister  at  Washington  to  be  used  as 
evidence  of  his  pacific  attitude. 

A  vague  rumor  of  the  battle  at  Tippecanoe  had  reached 
Elliot  at  Amherstburg  as  early  as  the  3d  of  i  >ccember,  181 1,  but 
it  was  not  until  the  12th  of  January,  1812,  that  he  obtained  what 
may  be  regarded  as  the  olHcial  Indian  account  of  that  affair: 

Two  young  Winibiegoes,  no  doubt  out  of  curiosity  (for  it  appears  tho 
Indians  had  uo  intention  to  attack  but  to  defend  themselves  if  attacked), 


324 


AMEKICAN    HISTORICAL    ASSOCIATION. 


went  near  some  of  tho  American  HentinelH  and  wero  Mbot  at  anil  toll  as 
wounded  men,  but  on  the  Hentint^ls  coming  up  to  dispatch  tbem,  they  arose 
and  tomahawked  them. 

This  iiiHiiIt  roiiH<>d  tho  indigiirtiou  of  the  Indians  and  they  determined 
to  be  revengtMl  and  accordingly  connueuced  tho  attack  at  cockcrowing. 
They  had  the  AinericunM  between  two  tires;  driven  l)y  the  Winibiegoes 
they  wero  received  by  tho  Kikapoos,  alternately,  till  about  9  o'clock  when 
the  Indians  gave  w:iy  for  want  of  arrows  and  annniinition.  It  appears 
that  not  above  100  IinliunH  tired  a  shot,  the  greater  )iart  being  engaged  in 
plnnilering  and  conveying  of  horses. 

The  Indians  asserted  that  tlioy  had  less  than  iiOO  men  in  the 
field,  belonging  to  seven  dittei-ent  nations,  and  admitted  the 
loss  of  only  25  in  killed  and  wounded 

Replying  about  tlie  saimi  time  to  incjuiries  from  Colonel  Claus, 
Elliot  assured  him  that  "all  tlie  Indians,  with  the  excei)tion 
of  a  few  stragglers  of  all  the  nations  within  the  limits  of  your 
sketch,  may  be  depended  upon ;  the  exact  number  of  whom  I 
can  not  give  you,  but  the  following  is  what  I  Imve  been  able 
to  collect  of  those  living  from  the  St.  Croix  lliver  to  the 
Wabash,  viz:  Chippewas,  .JOO;  Nodouessies,  1,000  and  iipwar<l 
(because  there  are  1,000  in  one  party);  Saukies,  1,000  went 
against  the  Osages;  Foxes,  1,000;  Mashoutas,  500;  lowas,  200; 
Meuominies,  .SOO.  The  situation  of  their  villages  is  out  of  my 
power  to  a.scertaiu.  The  i)art  of  the  country  I  was  formerly 
acquainted  with  has  entirely  eluinged  iis  face  with  its  masters 
and  the  Indians  have  moved  to  other  i)arts.  The  Ottawas  of 
the  Miami  Bay  and  branches  of  tliat  river  and  about  San- 
dusky are  about  300  men," 

A  considerable  number  of  British  traders  were  then  domi- 
ciled near  tlie  Mis8issip|>i  in  the  vicinity  of  Prairie  du  Chien, 
and  Brock  apj)lied  for  information  to  Robert  Dickson,  tho  most 
influential  of  these,  who  had  spent  more  than  twenty  years  of 
an  adventurous  life  in  the  exploration  of  the  western  c<mntry 
and  witli  whom  he  appears  to  have  previously  discussed  the 
subject. 

A  message  to  him  was  dispatched  from  Toronto  on  the  2Tth 
of  February,  1812,  by  an  Indian  runner,  and  delivered  early  in 
June  at  the  portage  between  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  rivers, 
requesting  hivn  to  state  <leHnitely  the  nund)er  of  his  "friends" 
who  could  be  depended  tipon,  and  directing  him  to  send  down 
"  a  few  faithful  and  very  confidential  agents."  1  )ick8on  replied 
that  "the  unparalleled  scarcity  of  provisions  of  all  sorts"  had 
reduced  the  number  of  his  "  friends"  to  250  or  300,  speaking 
several  difi'erent  languages,  but  that  they  were  all  ready  to 


INDIANS    IN    THE    WAR    OF    1812. 


825 


march  under  a  proi)er  i>erson  coinmisHioned  for  that  purpose, 
and  iictnally  disi)a.tched  71)  warriors  to  Amlicrstburj?  on  th« 
very  day  of  the  dcchiration  of  war,  and  issued  instructions  for 
the  remainder  to  asseudde  at  St.  Josephs  on  the  .30th  of  June. 

He  does  not  seem  to  have  taken  any  pains  to  conceal  his 
intentions,  for  as  early  as  tlie  24th  of  April,  1812,  Ninian 
Kdwards,  governor  of  the  Illinois  Territory,  informed  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  that  "the  opinion  of  the  celebrated  British 
trader,  Dickson,  is  that  in  the  event  of  a  British  war  all  the 
Indians  will  be  opposed  to  us,  and  he  hopes  to  engage  them  in 
hostility  by  making  peace  between  the  Sioux  and  Chippewas, 
two  very  large  nations,  and  getting  them  to  declare  war 
against  us.'' 

Dickson  asserted  that  he  had  found  the  agents  of  the  Ameri- 
can Government  among  the  Indians  extremely  active,  ''makinpf 
them  unusual  presents  of  goods  and  inviting  them  in  the  most 
pressing  manner  to  visit  the  President  of  the  United  States  at 
Washington."  He  spent  about  $1(>,(KM»  out  of  his  own  means 
in  frustrating  their  efforts  in  the  course  of  the  spring  and  sum- 
mer of  1812. 

Everywhere  the  Imlians  were  ripe  for  war  owing  to  the  fail- 
ure of  their  crops  for  two  years  in  succession,  and  the  migra- 
tion of  game  caused  by  excessive  drought.  They  were,  besides, 
bitterly  exasperated  by  the  refusal  of  some  of  the  American 
othcers  to  furnish  them  with  supplies  on  credit,  and  Dickson 
confirmed  his  influence  by  distributing  his  entire  stock  among 
them  and  purchasing  all  the  provisions  he  could  obtain. 

At  the  same  time  the  Governor-General  of  Canada  sought 
the  assistance  of  the  two  great  fur  companies,  upon  whom 
so  much  of  the  prosperity  of  the  colony  at  that  time  depended. 
The  Northwest  Com  pa"/  replied  that  they  could  control  250 
engages  and  from  300  to  TKM)  Indians.  The  Michilimakinac^ 
or  Southwest  Company  with  equal  readiness  promised  the 
services  of  100  engages  and  300  Indians. 

Prevost  then  endeavored  to  increase  the  etticiency  of  the 
Indian  department,  which  consisted  of  a  superintendent- 
general,  3  superintendents,  and  14  interpretwrs,  many  of  them 
very  old  men  who  had  been  in  the  service  since  the  Revolution. 
With  this  object,  on  the  1st  of  May,  1813,  he  addressed  a  care- 
ful letter  of  instructions  to  Sir  John  Johnson,  who  was  still 
superintendent- general : 

You  are  to  keep  np  friendly  intercourse  and  communication  with  all 
the  Indian  nations,  to  preserve  economj*,  regularity,  and  order, 


■M 

m  r 


326 


AMERICAN    HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


Ah  they  conBider  themselves  free  and  independent,  th<\v  are  to  be  gov- 
erned by  address  and  persuasion,  and  the  utmost  attention  to  ceremoni*;8 
and  external  appearance,  with  an  nncoinmou  share  of  patience,  ^ood 
temper,  and  forbearance,  and  you  are  to  instruct  your  officers  accord- 
ingly. Upon  the  arrival  of  parties  of  Indians  at  any  post  the  agent 
shall  notify  the  commanding  otYicer,  who.  with  the  officers  of  the  garrison, 
shall  assist  in  receiving  them  with  every  mark  of  solemnity  and  friend- 
ship. Their  reciuests,  if  reasonable,  are  to  be  complied  with.  Should 
they  lay  down  presents,  they  are  to  be  taken  up  with  thanks  and  given 
presents  of  greater  value  in  return.  Chiefs  are  also  to  be  distinguished. 
When  conferences  are  held  by  the  agent  the  conmianding  officer  is  to 
preside  and  all  the  officers  are  to  be  present,  hut  he  is  not  to  interfere 
with  the  agent  in  the  management  of  the  Indians.  As  they  are  curious 
and  fond  of  news,  the  officers  are  to  be  cautiouf  as  to  what  they  say  and 
it  should  be  told  very  <listinctly,  and  agents  fliould  endeavor  to  make  one 
or  two  sober  and  intelligent  chiefs  living  at  the  jiosfs  their  friends  and 
confidants,  and  use  them  as  their  speakers  and  have  them  prompted  in 
what  the  officer  intends  to  say,  this  being  a  custom  of  the  Indians  with 
their  own  speakers.  Minutes  of  the  meetings  are  tl>  be  regularly  kept. 
The  agents  are  at  all  times  to  inculcate  into  the  minds  of  the  Indians 
principles  of  humanity  and  tenderness  to  prisoners,  particularly  on  the 
departure  of  all  parties  during  a  war  or  when  there  is  a  probability  of 
retaliating  or  resenting  injuries  sustained. 

In  all  matters  of  trade  in  which  Indians  are  concerned  the  utmost  jus- 
tice is  to  be  done  them.  No  person  belonging  to  or  employed  in  the  Indian 
department  is  to  be  allowed  to  trade,  directly  or  indirectly,  or  to  have  any 
share,  profit,  or  concern  therein.     *     *     » 

Every  means  is  to  be  taken  to  prevent  the  pernicious  practice  of  intro- 
ducing liquors  among  them  and  every  endeavor  exerted  to  keep  them 
perfectly  sot)er. 

The  entire  cost  of  the  department  for  the  year  1811  was 
£29,606,  and,  so  far  from  exhibiting  a  hirge  increase,  as  alleged 
by  General  Harrison,  it  was  actually  nnicli  less  than  in  the 
preceding  year. 

The  number  of  Indians' actually  residing  in  Canad.a,  among 
whom  most  of  this  money  was  si)ent,  was  inconsiderable.  The 
Seven  Nations  of  Lower  Canada,  living  at  Caughnawaga  and 
the  Lake  of  Two  Mountains,  could  muster  about  "lOO  lighting 
men;  the  Six  Nations,  at  the  Grand  Kiver,  in  Upper  Canada, 
nearly  4(M),  and  the  Missassaugas  about  the  same  number. 

On  the  8th  of  July  Captain  Roberts,  the  commandant  of  a 
British  outpost  on  St.  Josephs  Island,  received  letters  from 
General  Brock  announcing  that  war  had  been  declared  by  the 
United  States  and  suggesting  an  attack  upon  Mackinac.  A 
day  or  two  later  he  received  instructions  to  suspend  hostili- 
ties, and  finally,  on  the  lotli,  a  dispatch  directing  him  to  act 
as  he  thought  proper.    Dickson  had  come  in  with  130  Sioux, 


i 


INDIANS   IN   THE    WAR   OF    1S12. 


327 


FoUes  Avoiiuvs,  jukI  Winnebagoes  from  (Ireeu  Buy,  and  M. 
Tousssiint  Pothier  arrived  tVoiii  Montreal  in  +.he  (iapacity  of 
agent  for  tlie  Southwest  Fur  Company.  An  express  was  sent 
to  reijuire  asaistancie  fi-oni  the  iigents  of  the  Northwest  Coni- 
p.any  at  Fort  William,  and  on  the  ninth  day  after  its  departure 
they  answered  by  their  presence,  bringing  with  them  nearly 
20()  engages.  Anmble  Chevalier,  an  Ottawa  chief  of  influence, 
who  had  recently  returned  from  h)wer  (Canada  to  reside  at 
L'Arbre  Croche,  volunteered  his  services  and  succeeded  in 
assembling  a  considerable  number  of  his  tribesmen.  I'otliier 
observed  that  "they  appeared  very  lukewarm,  and  after  a 
great  deal  of  prevarication  reluctantly  agreed  to  join  the  expe- 
dition. The  other  Indians  were  unanimous,  particularly  the 
Western  Indians,  whose  animated  example  had  great  influence 
ui)on  the  others.'' 

The  garrison  of  Mackinac  was  absolutely  taken  by  surprise 
and  surrendered  without  resistance  on  the  17th  of  July.  The 
Indiana  are  stated  to  have  behaved  in  the  most  exemplary 
manner.    Captain  Koberts  wrote: 

It  is  !i  circiiiimtance,  I  believe,  without  precedent  and  demands  the 
greatest  praise  for  all  thoso  who  ct.adncted  the  Indians,  that  although 
these  peo]>l<''s  minds  were  much  heated,  yet  as  soon  as  they  hoard  the 
capitulation  was  signed  they  all  returned  to  tlieir  eunoes,  and  not  a  drop 
of  either  man's  or  uninjal's  blood  was  spilt  till  I  gave  an  order  for  a  certain 
number  of  bullocks  to  be  purchased  for  them. 

John  Askin,  an  officer  in  the  Indian  department,  declared 
that  "since  the  capitulation  they  have  not  drunk  a  drop  of 
liquor  nor  even  killed  a  fowl  belonging  to  any  person  (a  tliing 
never  known  before),  for  they  generally  destroy  everything  they 
meet  with." 

After  the  fall  of  Mackinaw,  Dickson  returned  to  (Ireen  Bay 
to  collect  a  larger  body  of  warriors  whom  he  dispatched  to 
lirock's  assistance,  partly  in  canoes  and  partly  overland.  They 
arrived  at  Detroit  too  late  to  take  any  part  in  the  military 
operations  which  led  to  the  surrender  of  that  place. 

The  Ottawas,  however,  ('ontiiuied  to  waver,  and  were  even 
suspected  of  fouming  a  conspiracy  to  seize  Fort  Mackinac  and 
exterminate  ohe  British  garrison. 

During  the  winter  Elliot  had  sent  a  message  to  the  Indians 
on  the  Wabash  urging  them  to  desist  from  further  hostilities, 
and  about  the  14th  of  June  he  re(!eive<l  a  formal  reply  from 
Techkamthai,  the  "Bbawanese  of  no  note''  meutioued  in  Gea- 


^ 


!W^i;r^mmmmfmmrm 


mmmm 


.■^rtfc^tti  *i<i*i 


mm 


328 


AMERICAN    HISTORICAL    ASSOCIATION. 


eral  Bnxrk's  letter,  who  had  collected  600  warriors,  of  IL'  difter- 
ent  tribes,  at  Machethie  on  the  Wabash,  about  60  miles  from 
Fort  Wayne.  They  had  scarcely  any  ammunition  for  the  fire- 
arms they  possessed,  and  were  busily  employed  in  making 
bows  and  arrows  in  expectation  of  an  attack. 

The  Shawaneae  chief  replied :  *'  You  tell  us  to  retreat  or  turn 
on  one  side  should  the  'big  knives'  come  against  us.  Had  I 
been  at  home  in  the  late  unfortunate  affair  1  should  have  done 
so;  but  those  I  left  at  home  (I  can  not  call  them  men)  were  a 
poor  set  of  people,  and  their  scufHe  with  the  'big  knives'  I 
compared  to  a  struggle  between  <'hildren  who  only  scratch 
each  other's  faces.  •  *  *  We  will  now  in  a  few  words 
declare  our  whole  hearts.  If  we  hear  of  the  'big  knives'  com- 
ing toward  our  villages  to  speak  peace  we  will  receive  them ; 
but  if  we  hear  of  any  of  our  i)eople  being  hurt  by  them,  or  if 
they  unprovokedly  advance  against  us  in  a  hostile  manner, 
be  assured  we  will  defend  ourselves  like  men.  And  if  we  hear 
of  any  of  our  people  having  been  killed,  we  will  immedi- 
ately send  to  all  the  nations  on  or  toward  the  jVIississippi, 
and  all  this  island  will  rise  like  one  man.  Then,  father  and 
brothers,  it  will  be  impossible  for  you,  or  either  of  you,  to 
restore  peace  between  us.'' 

The  march  of  General  Hull's  army  toward  Detroit  was 
closely  watched  by  Tecumtha's  scouts,  who  lurked  in  the  woods 
and  counted  his  troops  as  they  passed.  In  the  beginning  of 
July  he  joined  the  British  forces  at  Amherstburg  with  nearly 
200  followers.  Thirty  Winnebagoes  sen  t  by  Dicjkson  from  Green 
Bay  also  came  in,  but  the  Indians  from  Ujiper  Canada,  Ohio, 
and  Michigan  signiticantly  held  aloof.  In  the  first  letter  Hull 
received  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  after  his  appointment  to 
tlie  command  of  the  Northwestern  army,  he  was  instructed 
"to  adopt  such  measures  with  the  chiefs  of  the  several  tribes 
of  Indians  as  may  in  your  judgment  api)ear  to  be  the  be§t 
calculated  to  secure  the  peace  of  the  country."  Evidence  Avas 
not  wanting  that  he  had  been  at  least  partially  successful  in 
his  efforts  to  secui-e  their  support.  A  letter  from  General  Hull 
to  the  Seci'etary  of  War,  dated  at  Fort  Findlay,  on  June  2(i, 
was  intercepted,  in  whi«!h  he  said :  "  I  have  with  me  a  <!on8ider 
able  number  of  chiefs  and  headmen  of  the  different  nations. 
•  •  •  The  friendly  Indians  are  now  making  cftnoes,  and 
will  carry  a  part  of  the  baggiige  of  the  army  from  this  to  the 
foot  of  the  rai»ids." 


I 


!2? 


tfi^m^fitm 


w 


.t 


INDIANS    IN    THK    WAR    OF    1812. 


329 


The  Indians  in  the  British  camp  were  represented  as  .being 
eager  for  hostilities.  On  the  8th  of  Jnly  Colonel  St.  George 
wrote  to  General  lirook  : 

I  now  think  it  /ortnnato  that  your  letter  of  the  20th  came  too  late  to 
stop  the  mossengcFH  sent  out  to  the  distant  IndiimM.  ( )n  my  return  from 
Sandwich  yesterday  we  had  a  };rand  council  of  chiefs,  etc.,  from  the 
neighborhood,  and  tlie  nsnal  ceremonies  of  the  wampum,  etc.,  were  gone 
through.  There  were  present  ahont  201),  and  besides  tliose  jirosent  I  am 
informed  100  had  gone  to  their  camp.  Tecumtha  (the  prophet's  brother) 
acted  a  conapicnons  part  on  the  occasion. 

On  the  ir>th  he  observed,  "As  to  the  Indian.s,  I  wished  those 
here  to  act  when  I  could  support  them;  but  as  they  are  so 
anxious,  I  must  let  them  on  and  sustain  them  as  1  see  occasion 
to  the  utmost  of  ray  power."  In  the  course  of  tlie  same  day 
p]lliot  reported  that  "the  Indians  witli  us  are  between  300  and 
400,  who  have  resisted  every  allurement  which  General  Hull 
laid  before  them.  Techkumthai  has  kept  them  faithful.  He 
has  shown  himself  to  be  a  determined  character  an<l  a  great 
friend  to  our  (rovernmeut." 

On  the  other  hand,  Hull  asserted  that  the  number  of  "hos- 
tile Indians"  was  daily  diminishing,  and  took  means  to  circu- 
late widely  his  well-known  proclamation  in  wliich  he  declared 
"that  the  first  stroke  with  the  tomahawk,  the  tirst  attempt 
with  the  scalping  knife,  will  be  tlie  signal  for  one  indi8<!rimi- 
nate  scene  of  desolation.  No  white  man  found  lighting  by  the 
side  of  an  Indian  will  be  taken.  Instant  destruction  will  be 
his  lot." 

Still  he  did  not  relax  his  efforts  to  gain  the  Indians  over  and 
even  sent  agents  with  a  message  to  the  Six  Nations  on  the 
Grand  River.  Tarhe,  the  eldest  chief  of  the  Hurons,  was  sum- 
moned from  Sandusky  to  exert  his  influence  witii  his  tribe,  and 
on  the  19th  day  of  July  Hull  wrote  to  tlie  Secretary  of  War, 
"I  have  now  a  large  council  of  ten  or  twelve  imtions  sitting  at 
Brownstown,  and  1  have  no  doubt  the  result  will  be  that  they 
will  ren)ain  neutral." 

Several  chiefs  of  the  Hurons  were  sent  a<!ross  the  river  to 
confer  with  Tecumtha  and  RouTidhead,  wiio  had  refused  to 
attend  this  council.  Both  these  chiefs,  after  a  stormy  discus- 
sion which  in  the  usual  Indian  fasliion  continued  for  three  days, 
declared  their  unalterable  determination  to  take  8i<les  with  the 
British,  and  after  exhausting  every  argument  in  their  power 
the  baflrted  Hurons  returned  to  Detroit. 


;■;  I 


830 


AMERICAN   fllSTORICAL    ASSOCIATION, 


The  doubtful  attitude  of  the  Six  Niitious  still  jrave  (Tcneral 
lirock  great  uueasineas.    Ou  the  lUl  of  .July  he  wrot«^: 

About  100  IndiaiiH  from  the  (irauil  Riv«r  liavo  attendod  to  my  snininons; 
tilt)  roinaiiidor  promise  to  come,  but  I  have  too  iiiiich  reason  to  concliule 
that  the  Americans  have  been  too  sncc^essfiil  in  their  endeavors  to  sow  diw- 
sension  and  disatlectioii  anion^  Mieni.  It  is  a  great  ol>jeet  to  j^et  this  (icl\h) 
raite  interspersed  among  the  troops.  I  slioidd  be  unwilling,  in  the  event 
of  a  retreat,  to  have  300  or  400  of  them  hanging  on  my  dauks.  I  shall 
probaldy  have  to  sacrifice  some  money  to  gain  them  over. 

Three  weeks  later,  after  learning  that  all  but  50  had  declined 
to  join  his  forces  and  announced  their  determination  of  remain- 
ing neutral,  he  said: 

The  militia  which  I  had  destined  for  this  service  (the  relief  of  AnduTst- 
burg)  will  now  be  alarmed  and  unwilling  to  leave  their  families  to  the 
mercy  of  4(X)  Indians  whose  conduct  affords  siu-h  wide  room  ior  suspicion, 
and  really  to  expect  that  this  (icklo  race  would  remain  in  the  midst  of 
war  in  a  state  of  neutrality  is  truly  absurd.  Tlu*  Indians  have  ]>robably 
been  led  to  this  change  of  sentiment  by  emissaries  from  General  Hull, 
whose  proclaimition  to  the  Six  Nations  is  lierewith  inclosed. 

On  the  2r>th  of  .Inly,  22  Menoniinees  routed  a  i)arty  of  Ohio 
militiiji  near  Sandwich,  and  innuediately  afterwards  a  sudden 
change  of  sentiment  became  ai)parent  among  the  Hurons 
residing  in  Michigan,  which  ended  in  a  determination  to  join 
the  British. 

"On  the  2d  instant,"  said  Colonel  Proctor,  writing  to  Hrock 
on  the  llth  of  August,  "the  Wyandots  having  at  last  decided 
ou  joining  the  other  nations,  of  whom  they  are  the  bravest  and 
eldest,  against  the  Americans,  a  considerable  body  of  Indians 
accomi)anied  the  chief  Tecumseth  to  the  village  of  the  Wyan- 
dots (lU'ownstown)  nearly  .'iO  miles  on  the  opposite  shore  from 
Detroit  and  a  from  hence.  I  sent  a  detachment  of  100  men 
under  Cai»tain  Muir  to  enable  the  Wyandots  to  bring  off  their 
families,  (;attle,  and  effects.  This  was  effected, much  to  the 
disappointment  of  Mr,  Hull,  who  has  given  them  a  considera- 
ble sum  of  money  in  the  hope  of  retaining  them  in  the  American 
interest.'' 

The  Indians  at  once  beset  the  communication  with  Ohio  and 
a  day  or  two  later  cut  off  a  party  with  dispatches  for  General 
Hull.  On  the  ath  of  August  24  Indians,  headMby  Tecuratha 
and  Capt.  William  Klliot,  ambushed  and  dispersed  the  escort 
una  Tajor  V^an  Florne,  cai)turing  the  mail  from  Detroit,  which 
contained  a  great  number  of  letters  and  documents  revealing 
the  demoralized  state  of  the  American  army  in  the  most  forci- 


1 


INDIANS    IN    THE    WAR    OF    1812. 


331 


ble  iiiiiiiner.  Tlie  importance  of  tlieiiiforiUiitioTi  tlins  obtaiiicd 
was  warmly  insisted  upon  by  IJrock  in  justitication  of  his  con- 
duct in  advancin;:^  against  Detroit.  "[  j?ot  possession  of  the 
letters  of  my  anta<?:onist  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  War, 
and  also  of  the  sentiments  of  iumdreds  of  his  army  uttered  to 
his  friends.  Confidence  in  tlieir  {general  was  gone  and  evident 
despondency  prevailed.  I  crossed  the  river,  contrary  to  tlie 
opinion  of  Colonel  Proctor  and  others,  and  it  is  tiierefore  no 
wonder  that  envy  should  attribute  to  good  fortune  what  in 
justice  to  my  own  discernment  1  must  say  pniceeded  from  a 
cool  calculation  of  tlie  pros  and  eontras." 

The  possession  of  so  much  of  General  Hull's  confidential 
correspondence  also  enabled  Colonel  JJaynes  to  contest  eflect- 
ively  the  charge  made  by  General  Dearborn  soon  after,  that 
the  British  alone  had  sought  the  assistance  of  the  Indians  in 
the  war. 

Describing  iiis  interview  with  the  latter,  Hayiies  said  that 
"General  Dearborn  dei)recated  in  strong  language  the  emjjloy- 
iug  the  Indiai»s  in  our  contest  and  insinuated  that  the  disposi- 
tion originated  with  the  British,  and  inferring  that  the  conduct 
of  America  was  free  from  that  reproach.  I  refuted  this  insin- 
uation by  assuring  the  General  that  we  were  in  pos.'.ession  of 
intercepted  letters  of  General  Ilullaflbrding  indubitable  proof 
that  he  had  not  only  entered  into  engagements  with  Indian 
tribes,  but  had  employed  emissaries  to  endeavor  to  gain  over 
those  supposed  to  bo  attached  to  the  British  interest;  that  it 
was  highly  to  be  lamented,  the  necessity  of  employing  such 
means,  but  as  it  was  well  known  the  disposition  of  these  peo- 
ple would  always  lead  them  to  take  an  active  part,  it  was  a 
matter  of  necessity  to  prevent  their  decision  being  in  favor  of 
our  enemy.*' 

The  surrender  of  Detroit  was  followed  by  the  evacuation  of 
Fort  Dearborn,  at  Chicago,  and  the  massacre  of  many  of  the 
garrison,  and  the  investment  of  Fort  Wayne  by  the  Indians  of 
Illinois. 

These  events  became  known  to  Colonel  Proctor,  who  suc- 
ceeded Brock  in  command  of  the  British  forces  at  Detroit, 
about  the  9th  of  September,  when  he  wrote  that  *'  the  garrison 
of  Chicago  fuis  been  taken  by  the  Indians,  partly  by  strata- 
gem, more  than  a  fortnigiit  since,  and  f  am  sorry  to  say  that 
the  garrison,  consisting  of  50  men,  and  every  other  pervson 
excepting  an  officer  and  his  lady,  who  were  wounded,  and  a 


3.*52 


AMKRICAN    HISTORK.'AL    ASSOCIATION. 


trader,  Kiiizie,  was  killed.  VVe  had  no  knowledge  <•*'  any 
attack  having  been  intendi'd  by  the  Indians  on  ('hicago,  nor 
can  they  indee«l  be  said  to  be  within  the  intlnenee  of  the  super- 
intendent. I  have  reason  to  believe  that  Fort  Wayne  has 
been  invested  by  the  back  Indians,  and  if  Colonel  Elliot  had 
not  been  totally  unable,  irom  lumbago,  to  ride  so  far,  I  shouhl 
have  required  him  to  pi'oceed  for  that  place  to  restrain  the 
Indians.  lie  has,  however,  taken  measures  that  I  hope  will 
have  the  desired  effect." 

A  few  days  later  I'roctor  deci<led  to  send  a  small  force  of 
regulars  and  militia  to  Fort  Wayne,  niaiidy  to  preserve  the 
lives  of  the  besieged  garrison,  but  "the  delay  occasioned  by 
th(^  armistice  iirevented  the  attainmciit  of  oiu*  object  of  the 
expedition,  winch  was  the  destruction  of  Fort  Wayne;  the  other 
was  effected  by  the  enemy.  I  do  not  think,"  he  added,  "we 
shall  have  any  credit  for  our  good  intentions,  however." 

Sometime  in  July,  1S12,  Erastus  (Iranger,  Indian  agent  for 
the  TTnited  States  in  westeiii  New  York,  held  a  council  with 
the  Senecas  at  Bntlalo  aiid  proposed  that  they  should  send  L'(M> 
warriors  to  .join  the  American  army.  This  they  declined  to  do, 
butagree<l  to  send  a  deputation  to  the  (5  rand  Hiverto  dissuade 
those  of  the  Six  Nations  residing  there  from  joining  the  British 
forces. 

On  the  27th  of  the  same  month  the  Secretary  of  War  wrote 
to  General  Dearborn  inch)sing  a  letter  to  tJ ranger  authorizing 
him  to  organize  the  Six  Nations  as  a  military  force.  Address- 
ing the  same  ol!icer  a  few  days  later,  he  said : 

By  letters  received  from  Krastiis  (iranger  it  appears  tliat  the  young 
men  of  the  Six  Nations  can  no  longtii-  ho  restrained,  and  that  in  case  of 
refusal  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  to  accept  tlieir  services  tliey  would 
Join  tlie  Indians  under  the,  Hritish  stanthird.  Mr.  Granger  has  therefore 
l)e<'n  authorized,  after  every  attempt  to  socnro  their  neutrality  has  failed, 
to  employ  them. 

Yet  at  a  coun<',il  held  at  Onondaga  on  the  2!)th  of  September 
the  spokesman  of  the  confederacy  rejdied  to  a  formal  invita- 
tion to  take  part  in  the  war  in  the  following  terms: 

Having  been  told  repeatedly  by  your  agents  to  remain  neutral  wo  were 
very  much  surprised  at  the  council  hold  at  the  Hutfalo  Creek  at  being 
invited  to  take  up  the  tomahawk.  We  are  not  unfriendly  to  the  United 
States,  but  are  few  in  number  and  can  do  but  little,  but  .are  willing  to  do 
what  we  can,  and  if  you  saj'  so  we  will  go  with  your  people  to  battle. 
We  are  anxious  to  know  your  wishes  as  soon  as  ])ossible  beeaust*  wo  are 
afVaid  some  of  our  meu  may  disperse  among  distant  tribes  and  be  hostile 
to  you. 


'••''"  **^,^ 


I 


INDIANS    IN   THE    WAR   OF    1812. 


333 


The  BuftUIo  (jjizettiJ  rt-mords  the  iirrival  of  1 10  Seiioca  war- 
riors lit  that  plare  diuiiiff  tlu^  last  woek  of  September,  and  on 
the  9th  of  October  Uiock  stated  that  "between  L»(M)  and  :$()(» 
Indians  have  Jointed  and  an;;inented  tht^  torcc  on  the  otiier 
side.  Their  brethren  liere  feel  ('((rtain  tliey  will  not  aet  with 
any  spirit  ajjainst  us.  So  i  iniajjine,  if  we  continue  to  show  a 
bold  front;  but  iu  the  event  of  a  disaster  the  love  of  ithinder 
will  j)revail  and  they  will  art  in  a  manner  most  to  be  dreadetl 
by  the  inhabitants  of  tiiis  (country."  Of  his  own  Indian  aux- 
iliaries he  seornfidly  observed,  ''They  may  serve  to  intimiihite; 
(•therwise  I  expect  uo  essential  service  from  this  dej^enerate 
race." 

However,  a  small  i)arty  of  the  Six  Nations  foaj,^ht  bravely 
ill  the  British  cause  at  (i)ueenston,  where  they  lost  14  killetl 
and  wounded. 

In  a  dispatch  dated  the  10th  of  Au^ri'st,  1812,  Lord  Bathurst, 
who  had  succeeded  Lord  Liverjtool  i»S  Se(!retaiy  of  State  for 
the  colonies,  formally  ai>pioved  of  the  employment  of  Indians. 
"  Had  it  been  possible,"  he  said,  "  to  have  induced  the  Indians 
to  preserve  a  strict  neutrality  between  the  Americans  and  this 
i'ountry  in  the  contest  in  which  wemay  beenjiiijfed,  the  interest 
of  humanity  mi{{ht  have  re<iuiied  that  we  should  resifrn  the 
benefit  of  an  alliance  with  them  and  of  their  actual  co  operation 
with  us  in  the  tield.  But  1  fear  there  can  be  little  (h)ubt,  if  wo 
decline  to  employ  them,  we  insure  to  ourselves  all  those  evils 
from  which  we  are  desirous  of  exempting?  our  enemies.  U[>oii 
any  i>riiiciple  of  self  defense,  thei-efore,  we  can  not  but  be  justi- 
rted  in  conciliating:  them,  and  if  they  are  determined  to  engage  in 
the  war,  in  employing  them  to  promote  our  succ^ess.  I  can  not 
too  strongly  impress  up(»!i  you  the  lUHU'Ssity  of  keeping  that 
control  <»ver  them  which  may  enabhi  yon  to  prevent  thi^  com- 
mission of  those  excesses  which  are  so  much  to  be  apprehemled 
and  can  not  fail  to  biiiig  discredit  uim'U  the  power  in  whose 
service  they  are  engaged.  It  would  be  desirable,  if  jutssible,  to 
restrain  them  from  acting  at  any  time  except  under  tlie  imme- 
diate direction  and  guidance  of  scune  officers  of  the  Indian 
department  or  others  in  whom  they  may  jdaee  confidence  and 
to  whose  command  they  may  be  induced  to  submit." 

The  correspondcMice  of  Sir(Jeorge  I'revost  indicates  that  he 
made  strenuous  efforts  to  carry  out  these  instructions  in  s^s 
humane  a  spirit  as  possible. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  181L',   a  ciriMilar   was  iiddressed 


I 


334 


AMERICAN    HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


to  Jill  oHicers  coiniuatKiing  posts  upon  tlie  frontier,  strictly 
enjoiniuj;;  them  to  rostraiu  tlio  Indians  from  the  commission 
of  any  acts  of  cruelty,  and  con<'ludiii{f  with  the  statement 
thiit  "his  exc('llen(\v  disapproves  of  any  co-operation  with  the 
Indians  not  couneeted  with  the  system  of  defense  of  tlie 
province." 

In  a  subsequent  Iclter  to  (lencral    SheaHe,  the   atljutant- 

general  said :  * 

* 

I  am  coniiimiulod  to  signify  to  you  bis  exfellenty's  ileHire  that  ovt-ry  pio- 
cantioniiry  nitiasiire  may  be  tiikeii  thrniigboiit  tbo  illHtrict  under  your 
coiiiiiiaiid  to  restrain  tbe  Indians  wboni  it  nitiy  bo  neccHHary  to  omiiloy. 
Sir  George  I'rovost  is  niucli  averse  to  allowing  tiie  regular  troops  to  be 
engaged  witli  tbe  Indians  in  any  odeiisive  operations,  and  it  is  bis  wisli 
tliat  in  your  conunnnicntions  wilb  Colonoj  I'roctor  you  will  call  bis  atten- 
tion to  tbis  iui])ortant  subject  and  rcconinicnd  to  tliat  officer  a  cautious 
line  of  conduct  in  tbis  respect  ('onsisteut  witb  tbe  iireservation  of  tbe 
district  coiuniittcd  to  bis  cbargi', 

Dickson  received  similar  instructions  on  the  7th  of  .January, 
1813,  when  on  the  point  of  departure  from  Montreal  for  the 
far  west: 

In  tbe  i)olicy  to  be  strictly  observed  iu  your  conduct  toward  tbe  dilfer- 
ent  tribes  it  is  desirable  tbut  you  sbould  endeavor  to  conciliate  tbeiu  to 
act  togetber  bi.rniouionsly,  tbat  you  sbould  restrain  tbeiu  by  all  tbe  nieaiis 
in  your  power  from  acts  of  cruelty  and  inbuuianity,  enoouraging  iu  tbeni 
a  disposition  to  preserve  uu  alliauue  of  fricndsbip  witb  tbeirllreat  Father, 
tbe  King  of  Hnglaud. 

()n  the  Dtli  of  February  the  o()vernor-gencral  said,  in  a  letter 
to  Colonel  Proctor: 

I  earnestly  recotumend  on  all  occasions  a  strict  adherence  to  that  control 
und  restraint  of  tbe  Indians  tbat  we  may  be  cnabUid  to  rojjel  tbe  charges 
which  have  not  infre<|uently,  though  falsely,  been  brought  agaiiiat  our 
Government  for  resorting  to  the  oniployuieut  of  them. 

Again,  addressing  the  same  officer  on  the  1st  of  March,  he 
returned  to  this  subject: 

You  will  osplalu  to  Norton  and  Koundbeud  in  the  most  distinct  terms 
the  services  tbe  King  ex[>ecls  from  bis  faithful  allies,  tbe  Indians,  and 
assure  them  of  His  Majesty's  entire  reliaure  uixiu  their  zeal  and  courage 
in  defending  their  best  rights  and  preserving  their  future  exittence.  Let 
them  clearly  understand  the  extent  of  the  co-operation  you  can  alibrd,  con- 
sisteut  witb  the  trusi  reposed  in  you,  and  al»ove  all  recommend  nu^rcy  iu 
A'iotory.  The  oflicers  belonging  to  tbe  Indiiiu  dej)artmeut  must  not  lie 
sparing  in  their  ert'orts  to  restrain  and  control  tbe  Indians  so  that  your 
uchievemeuts  may  be  without  staiu. 


1  i  t^rwihir 


I 


INDIANS   IN   THE   WAR   OF   1812. 


335 


Writing  to  (Jeiienil  Sheatt'e,  on  the  L*7th  of  Msirch,  he  Huid: 

1  now  come  to  thiit  highly  iinpoituut  part  of  your  resources,  the  oiuploy- 
iiient  of  IiitliaiiH,  soiuo  in  aid  of  your  priM'ttutloniiry  iiiciiHurt'M  of  ilcfense 
and  othorH  for  u»akin>{  otteusivc  dfuionHtratioim  for  tlio  recovery  of  tJicir 
usurped  territory,  the  latter  of  whi<'h  can  not  fail  to  act  as  a  powerful 
•liversion  in  your  fiivor.  In  consideration,  therefore,  of  tlie  uu)venient  of 
tho  confedorato  natiouH  from  the  \Val)a8h  to  the  Kivcr  Raiiiin  under  'I'ecuui- 
seh,  and  of  tho  expected  arrival  from  the  westward  of  several  warlike 
trihes  witli  Mr.  Dickson,  the  iij^Rregate  of  whidi  will  he  forniidahle,  I 
have  decided  on  intruHtinj?  the  uianaKcnicnt  of  tiiose  distant  trihes  of 
Indians  to  other  hands  than  those  which  are  at  i)reHent  employed  in  the 
Indian  department  at  Ainherstliurn,  and  accordingly  have  appointed  Mr. 
h'oherfc  Dickson  deiiuty  superintendent  of  the  Indians  in  Michigan  and  tho 
conquered  territory,  on  account  of  tlie  hi;;h  opinion  I  entertain  of  his  cour- 
age, his  perseverance,  his  integrity,  ami  his  zeal  for  the  service.  The  late 
instance  of  the  ir.trigue  hy  the  Indian  deimrtnient,  in  the  ease  of  Norton, 
an<l  the  evidence  itatl'orded  of  the  want  of  proper  subordination,  have  put 
me  on  my  guard  against  their  (Mideavors  to  thwart  my  designs  or  impede 
their  progress  because  they  are  not  to  he  executed  by  themselves,  and 
induces  me  to  recommend  you  to  vest  in  Colonel  Proctor  sullicient  author- 
ity to  support  Mr.  Dickson  in  his  organization  of  the  Indians  from  the 
westward,  and  to  cheek  the  prodigal  expenditure  of  provisions,  and  to 
establish  strict  impartiality  in  the  treatment  they  cx])erienco  from  us. 

I  can  not  too  fretiueutly  repeat  to  you  that  having  hi^en  under  the  necet;- 
sity  of  availing  ourselves  o*"  the  Indians'  assistance,  it  is  desirable,  on 
every  principle  of  humanity  and  policy,  that  all  practicable  means  should 
be  adoi>ted  to  sotten  tho  ferocity  of  their  usual  mode  of  warfare  ;ind  to 
restrain  them  in  it. 


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